Sleep-inducing sound-producing device



Feb. 11, 1964 J. K. BUCKWALTER 3,121,220

SLEEP-INDUCING SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICE Filed Jan. 21, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I l ium :5 1 5 v I 1 4.

IN VENTOR.

JAMES K. BUCKWALTER AT TORN EY Feb. 11, 1964 J. K. BUCKWALTER SLEEP-INDUCING SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1963 lillll' llllLllHHli INVENTOR JAMES K. BUCKWALTER ATTORNEY United States Patent Ohio Filed Jan. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 252,682 10 Claims. (Cl. 340-405) This invention relates to a sleep-inducing sound-producing device.

There are various conditions which lead to or cause sleeplessness on the part of difierent individuals. Some of these conditions are internal or self-generating, such as nervousness and worry. Other conditions are external, such as sensitivity to strange surroundings and particular ly to strange ambient sounds or noises. External conditions are likely to result in termination of sleep before a person has fully rested. Thus some authorities report that it is quite common for sleepers to alternate between deep sleep and light sleep, with the depth of sleep reducing and the periods of light sleep increasing progressively. Thus a sleeper becomes progressively subject to being wakened by surrounding noise disturbances, and particularly unusual noise disturbances, during the light sleeping parts of his sleep cycle.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a device for inducing sleep which is effective in cases of sleeplessness for both internal and external causes, which is inexpensive to construct and to operate, and which is readily portable.

A further object is to provide a device of this character capable of producing acoustical privacy by the exclusion of part of ambient sound of disturbing character to render it less noticeable and thereby to aid in the achievement of natural sleep.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which produces a restful sound tending to shut out disturbing ambient noises and thus producing a condition conducive to starting of sleep and continuance of sleep during a normal sleep period.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which blends a variety of sleep promoting sound tones which can be likened to musical tones, and thus produces an environment conducive to restful sleep.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is light in weight, which is adjustable by the user relative to pitch and volume of emitted sound, and which utilizes the principle of movement of air as a means to produce sound of restful character as a barrier to sound and noises of disturbing character.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical axial sectional view of the device;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an impeller used in the device as viewed in the direction of the arrows 33 in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic views illustrating differences in pitch of different blades of an impeller used in the device;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a device constituting a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrat ng a different adjustment of the device;

FIG. 8 is a vertical axial fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8-3 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, with parts broken away.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 to 5 which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, the numeral :10 designates a base plate which may be formed of any suitable material, such as wood, fiber board, metal or plastic, which has sound damping means associated therewith. In the form here shown, a rigid panel member 12, such as a disk of wood, plastic or composition board, is mounted upon a sheet or panel 14 of a sound damping material, such as sponge rubber, foam rubber or foamed plastic, having the property of absorbing sound and also the property of absorbing vibration and also the property of resisting movement or walking of the device upon a smooth surface, such as a table top, during operation thereof. The panel 12 is preferably circular, and the marginal portion of an inverted cupshaped member 16 fits therearound. As here illustrated, the member 16 has a circular top '18 and a depending skirt or side wall portion 2% which fits snugly around the base panel 12 and may be detachably secured thereto by screws 22 or other securing means. The base 10 and the inverted cup-shaped member 16 cooperate to define the frame and housing or enclosure for the device. The inverted cup-shaped member 16 may be formed from any suitable material, such as metal, hard rubber and synthetic materials, such as thermosetting or thermoplastic materials.

lAn electric motor 24 is fixedly mounted upon the base panel 12 within the enclosure 16 and an elongated flexible electrical insulated conductor 26 extends from the motor 24 and passes through a grommet or other member, 28 preferably resilient, which is mounted in an opening in the side wall 20 preferably adjacent the bottom thereof. Conductor 26 terminates in a conventional separable connector member 30 of the type well known in the art. The motor 24 is positioned with its shaft 32 extending vertically upwardly substantially at the vertical center axis of the device and mounts a fan or impeller 34 at a hub 36. The impeller 34 is positioned horizontally in spaced relation below the top 18 of the housing and has peripheral clearance with the side walls 2i of the housing. If desired, means may be provided to adjust the position of the impeller 34 upon the motor shaft 32 as by providing a set screw (not shown) upon the hub 36 accommodating connection of the impeller to the shaft 32 at a selected position along the length of that shaft.

The impeller 34 is selected to produce a favorable type of sound for sleep-inducing purposes while in operation driven by the motor 24. Inexpensive electric motors of low power rating, capable of successful use in a device of this character, are commercially available and operate at about 3000 rpm. under no load conditions. The sound which an im eller produces is a function of the speed of rotation, the voltune or" air moved by the impeller, the shape of the impeller, the diameter of the impeller, and other conditions. I have found that an impeller of the character illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, is well suited for this use. This impeller constitutes a metal disk havin a substantially flat central portion 38 and a peripheral or blade portion formed by a plurality of narrow radial slots 49 arranged equiangularly and preferably of an even number, such as eight, as here shown. The slots 49 serve to outline a plurality of blades of similar size and shape which are bent out of the plane of the central portion 3% of the impeller. in the prefer-red form, alternate blades 42 are bent or twisted slightly or at a small angle to the horizontal, as illustrated at FIG. 4, and the intervening blades 44 are bent or deflected in a circumferential direction to a. greater angle and greater extent, for example as iliustrated in FIG. 5. The impeller 3 is mounted to produce a flow of air therepast in a downward direction in the preferred arrangement of the device which is illustrated here.

The portion 16 of the housing is characterized by the provision therein of a plurality of apertures. Thus a circular series of small apertures es located substantially equispaced from the center of the device are formed in the top 18. In the form here shown, these openings are spaced from the center of the top a distance less than the radius of the impeller 34. A second series of openings 48 is formed in the sides 21 of the device, the same preferably being equally spaced and located at substantially the same level. A third series of openings 50 is formed in the wall 20 at a low level. The openings of each of the series 46, 48 and '13 are preferably substantially equally spaced, the openings 5% being at a lower level than the openings 48, and the openings 48 preferably being at a level below the level of the impeller 34. Openings 50 are also preferably larger than the openings 48 and 46.

In one embodiment of the invention, the device has a diameter of approximately five inches and a height of approximately three inches. The diameter of the impeller is preferably approximately four inches, and the level of the impeller is preferably approximately onehalf inch below the level of the top 46. In this embodiment, the openings 46 are preferably one-eighth inch in diameter and are located spaced from the circumference of the housing in a circle of approximately three and one-half inches in diameter. The openings 48 are preferably slightly greater in diameter than the openings 46 and in the illustrative embodiment are made seven thirty-seconds of an inch in diameter and are located in a plane at a level of from one and a half inches to two inches above the base.

The third and lower set of openings 59 are of still larger diameter and, in this embodiment, may be in the order of nine thirty-seconds of an inch in diameter and are located only a slight distance above the base plate 12, for example, at a spacing of one-quarter inch above the plate 12. The dimensions and proportions cited are understood to be illustrative and, when used with an impeller of the character described driven by a motor operating at a speed of approximately 3000 r.p.m., produce a desirable sound or tone capable of inducing sleep and of producing a sound barrier against disturbing ambient noise.

As air is caused to flow by reason of operation of the impeller 34, it is drawn inwardly through the openings 46 and moves downwardly past the intermediate openings 48 for principal discharge at the openings 50. Movement of the air in this manner produces a steady soothing sound of moving air which is pleasant to the ear of most people. This sound of moving air, coupled with the characteristic hum of the motor 24, produces a composite or combined sound which I have found to be conducive to sleep. Also, I have found that this sound is an aid to undisturbed sleep by reason of the fact that it screens out unpleasant and sleep-arresting sounds or noises which may originate either within the bedroom or sleeping quarters or externally. Thus the sound serves to screen out and render less disturbing the sounds of snoring of another occupant of the room and to screen out exterior noises, such as road or trafiic noises.

One of the characteristics of the device is that it may function for long periods of time at low cost, because the impeller acts to move air at a limited rate of flow. The rate of flow is adequate, however, to provide cooling action for the motor 24. This self-cooling action permits the device to be made compact or small in relation to the overall size of the motor and the fan blade, and results in efiiciency and economical operation over a long period of time. The steady sound is at a low level and will lull most people to sleep and will filter or screen out most noises which are usually disturbing to light sleepers so that an individual can sleep in a very relaxed manner with minimum disturbance so that he or she awakens in the morning in a fully rested condition. The device can easily be carried by travelers because of its small size and can be used by simply plugging it into an electrical outlet in a strange bedroom While traveling.

I have found that different people have different preferences as to pitch of sound produced by the device and, consequently, it may be desired by some individuals to provide for adjustment of the device. FIGS. 6 to 9 illustrate a construction which provides for such adjustment. In this construction, the device has a base 60 mounting an inverted cup-shaped member having side walls 62 and a top 64. The cup-shaped member 62-64 is detachably mounted upon the base 60 in any suitable manner, and the base 69 will be provided with a resilient sound and vibration absorbing bottom surface, as previously explained. The members 62, 64 will preferably be molded from metal, hard rubber or plastic, and I have found that one material particularly well suited for the housing part 62, 64 is known as Cycolac H produced by Dow Chemical Company, and consisting of a combination of butyl rubber and styrene, and known as an ABS material. Other thermoplastic or thermosetting resins may also be utilized. It will be understood that an electric motor (not shown) and an impeller (not shown) will be mounted within the device substantially in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2.

The top 64 is preferably characterized by a concentric annular offset part 66 which may be outlined by upwardly projecting inner and outer ribs 68. A plurality of equispaced elongated openings or slots 70 are formed in the annular part 66 preferably extending substantially full width thereof and equiangularly related, with each slot extending at a predetermined angle to the radius of the part 64 adjacent thereto. An annular member 72 is preferably provided with inner and outer guide rings 74 which fit over the ribs 68. The annular member 72 preferably fits in face engagement with the upper face of the slotted part 66 and may mount a knob 76 to facilitate rotation thereof relative to the top 64. Part 72 has a plurality of equally spaced transversely extending elongated slots '78 therein which extend in a different direction than the slots '70 and intersect the same, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The slots 7 8 and the slots 7 0 need not be straight and they need not be of the samewidth throughout their length, but they should be arranged in such manner that the number of slots 78 will be equal tothe number of slots 7% and each will have the same relation in each angular adjustment. In other words, the resultant openings 80 providing unobstructed passages through the top should be at a predetermined distance from the center of the top in each adjustment of the parts 72. It will be apparent by considering FIGURES 6 and 7 that the spacing of the openings 80 from the center of the top may be varied by rotating the member 72 relative to the top 64. This changes the location of the air inlet opening.

relative to the periphery of the impeller and has a consequent effect upon the pitch of the sound produced during the operation of the device. It will be understood that this adjustment is of relatively minor importance, however, and may be omitted if desired.

An adjustment of pitch which is of greater importance in the functioning of the device is made possible by the construction illustrated in FIG. 9. In this construction,

An outer band or ring 88 encircles the slotted part of the wall 62 and is in rotatable face contact therewith. The band 88 may be provided with guides 90 slidable on ribs 84 to position it. Elongated transverse slots 92 are for-med in the band 88 extending in predetermined angular relation to the vertical so as to intersect the slots 82 and provide openings 9 The slots 8-2 and 92 are arranged in pairs, having the same relationship to each other so that rotation of the part 88 will result in change of the elevation of the passages 94. If desired, the slots 8-2 and 92 may be of varying width throughout their length and, in such instances, it will be apparent that a change in the size of the opening 94 will result from rotation of the ring 88 in addition to change in the location of the openings 94 vertically of the device.

I have found, particularly in the construction illustrated where the wall '62 and band 88 are substantially fnusto conical in shape, that the construction of the device as illustrated in FIG. 9 permits control of the volume and pitch of the sound of air moving in the device. This is due to the relation or position of the openings 94 with respect to the circumference of the impeller. The greater the distance, that is, the lower the level of the openings 94, the lower the level of the sound volume and the lower the pitch of the sound.

It will be understood that the adjustment at the top, as illustrated in :FIG. 8, may be provided independently of adjustment at the sides as illustrated in FIG. 9, and vice versa. The adjustment means illustrated in PEG. 9 appetrs to have a wider tonal control range and to be of greater importance than the adjustment means illustrated in FIG. 8, in the functioning of the device. Aside from the possible adjustment of pitch, the device illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9 operates in the same manner and produces substantially the same results as that illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, it being understood, of course, that the parts must be so constructed that the members 88 and 72 are substantially free from chatter during operation of the device.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes in the construction may be made :within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sound producing sleep-inducing device comprising a housing having a base with a resilient sound-damping lower part and top and side walls connected to define an enclosure,

an electric motor carried by said base and having a vertical shaft positioned centrally of said housing and terminating spaced below said top wall, and

an impeller mounted on said shaft spaced below said top wall with circumferential clearance relative to said side walls and operable to create down flow of air in said housing,

a circular series of apertures formed in said top wall in substantially equispaced relation,

a circumferential series of substantially equispaced apertures formed in said side wall in spaced relation below said top wall and said impeller, and

a second circumferential series of substantially equispaced apertures formed in said side wall below said first series.

2. A sound-producing sleep-inducing device comprising a housing having a base with a resilient sound-damping lower part and top and side Walls connected to define an enclosure,

an electric motor carried by said base and having a vertical shaft positioned centrally of said housing and terminating spaced below said top wall, and

an impeller mounted on said shaft spaced below said top wall with circumferential clearance relative to said side walls and operable to create downflow of air in said housing,

a circular series of apertures formed in said top wall in substantially equispaced relation,

a circumferential series of substantially equispaced apertures formed in said side wall in spaced relation below said top wall and said impeller, and

a second circumferential series of substantially equispaced apertures formed in said side wall below said first series,

the apertures of said second circumferential series being larger than the apertures of the other series.

3. A sound-producing sleep-inducing device comprising a housing having a base with a resilient sound-damping lower part and top and side walls connected to define an enclosure,

an electric motor carried by said base and having a vertical shaft positioned centrally of said housing and terminating spaced below said top wall, and

an impeller mounted on said shaft spaced below said top Wall with circumferential clearance relative to said side walls and operable to create downflow of air in said housing,

a circular series of apertures formed in said top wall in substantially equispaced relation,

a circumferential series of substantially equispaced apertures formed in said side wall in spaced relation below said top wall and said impeller, and

a second circumferential series of substantially equispaced apertures formed in said side wall below said first series,

the apertures of said first named circumferential series being larger than the apertures in said top wall and smaller than the apertures of said second circumferential series.

4. A sound-producing sleep-inducing device comprising a housing having a base with a resilient sound-damping lower part and top and side walls connected to define an enclosure,

an electric motor carried by said base and having a vertical shaft positioned centrally of said housing and terminating spaced below said top wall, and

an impeller mounted on said shaft spaced below said top wall with circumferential clearance relative to said side walls and operable to create downflow of air in said housing,

a circular series of apertures formed in said top wall in substantially equispaced relation,

a circumferential series of substantially equispaced apertures formed in said side wall in spaced relation below said top wall and said impeller,

a second circumferential series of substantially equispaced apertures formed in said side Wall below said first series, and

means for selectively varying the elevation of the apertures of said first named circumferential series.

5. A sound-producing sleep-inducing device comprising a housing having a base with a resilient sound-damping lower part and top and side walls connected to define an enclosure,

an electric motor carried by said base and having a vertical shaft positioned centrally of said housing and terminating spaced below said top wall, and

an impeller mounted on said shaft spaced below said top wall with circumferential clearance relative to said side Walls and operable to create downflow of air in said housing,

a circular series of apertures formed in said top wall in substantially equispaced relation,

a circumferential series of substantially equispaced apertures formed in said side wall in spaced relation below said top wall and said impeller,

a second circumferential series of substantially equispaced apertures formed in said side Wall below said first series,

said side wall having a circumferential series of elon gated slots therein below the level of said impeller and above the level of the apertures of said second circumferential series,

said slots being inclined to the vertical in one direction, and a band encircling the slotted portion of said side wall and rotatable therearound and in face contact therewith,

said band having a circumferential series of elongated slots therein which are inclined to the vertical in opposite direction to and which intersect said first slots to define apertures.

6. A sound-producing sleep-inducing device comprising a housing having a base with a resilient sound-damping lower part and top and side walls connected to define an enclosure,

an electric motor carried by said base and having a vertical shaft positioned centrally of said housing and terminating spaced below said top wall, and

an impeller mounted on said shaft spaced below said top wall with circumferential clearance relative to said side walls and operable to create downfiow of air in said housing,

a circular series of apertures formed in said top wall in substantially equispaced relation.

a circumferential series of substantially equispaced apertures formed in said side wall in spaced relation below said top wall and said impeller,

a second circumferential series of substantially equispaced apertures formed in said side wall below said first series, and

means for selectively varying the radial location of the apertures in said top wall.

7. A sound-producing asleep-inducing device comprising a housing having a base with a resilient sound-damping lower part and top and side walls connected to define an enclosure,

an electric motor carried by said base and having a vertical shaft positioned centrally of said housing and terminating spaced below said top wall, and

an impeller mounted on said shaft spaced below said top wall with circumferential clearance relative to said side walls and operable to create downfiow of air in said housing,

a circular series of apertures formed in said top wall in substantially equispaced relation,

a circumferential series of substantially equispaced apertures formed in said side wall in spaced relation below said top wall and said impeller,

a second circumferential series of substantially equispaced apertures formed in said side wall below said first series,

said top wall having a circular set of elongated slots therein in similar orientation to the center of said top, and

an annular member bearing on the slotted part of said top and rotatable relative thereto,

said annular member having a circular set of elongated slots therein which intersect said first named slots to define apertures.

8. A sound producing sleep-inducing device comprising a housing having a base with a resilient sound-damping lower part and top and side walls connected to define an enclosure,

an electric motor carried by said base and having a vertical shaft positioned substantially centrally of said housing and terminating spaced below said top wall, and

an impeller mounted on said shaft spaced below said top with circumferential clearance relative to said side walls and operable to create a draft of air in said housing,

a circular series of apertures formed in said top wall substantially concentric thereof, and

a circular series of apertures formed in said side wall at substantially the same elevation spaced below said impeller.

9. A device as defined in claim 8, -md

means for selectively varying the elevation of the apertures of said last named series.

10. A device as defined in claim 8, and

means for selectively varying the spacing of the apertures of said first series from the center of said top wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,367,233 Millard June 16, 1945 2,564,984 Lyman Aug. 21, 1951 2,644,153 Beazley June 30, 1953 2,659,073 Wie-sman Nov. 10, 1953 2,931,821 Horton Apr. 12, 1960 

7. A SOUND-PRODUCING SLEEP-INDUCING DEVICE COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A BASE WITH A RESILIENT SOUND-DAMPING LOWER PART AND TOP AND SIDE WALLS CONNECTED TO DEFINE AN ENCLOSURE, AN ELECTRIC MOTOR CARRIED BY SAID BASE AND HAVING A VERTICAL SHAFT POSITIONED CENTRALLY OF SAID HOUSING AND TERMINATING SPACED BELOW SAID TOP WALL, AND AN IMPELLER MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT SPACED BELOW SAID TOP WALL WITH CIRCUMFERENTIAL CLEARANCE RELATIVE TO SAID SIDE WALLS AND OPERABLE TO CREATE DOWNFLOW OF AIR IN SAID HOUSING, A CIRCULAR SERIES OF APERTURES FORMED IN SAID TOP WALL IN SUBSTANTIALLY EQUISPACED RELATION, A CIRCUMFERENTIAL SERIES OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUISPACED APERTURES FORMED IN SAID SIDE WALL IN SPACED RELATION BELOW SAID TOP WALL AND SAID IMPELLER, A SECOND CIRCUMFERENTIAL SERIES OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUISPACED APERTURES FORMED IN SAID SIDE WALL BELOW SAID FIRST SERIES, SAID TOP WALL HAVING A CIRCULAR SET OF ELONGATED SLOTS THEREIN IN SIMILAR ORIENTATION TO THE CENTER OF SAID TOP, AND AN ANNULAR MEMBER BEARING ON THE SLOTTED PART OF SAID TOP AND ROTATABLE RELATIVE THERETO, SAID ANNULAR MEMBER HAVING A CIRCULAR SET OF ELONGATED SLOTS THEREIN WHICH INTERSECT SAID FIRST NAMED SLOTS TO DEFINE APERTURES. 